The problem with this important qualification is that the people most desperate to stop the boats don't look at the numbers in comparison to legal migration, but compare them to zero migration of any kind.

If you watched the first election debate, what was your top reason for doing so?

(There may be lots of reasons, but which one was your top one?)

Stocks of Copium completely depleted on this one...

Timely reminder that Twitter isn't the real world.

Here's what I would do if I were on Starmer's team and helping with his debate prep: get a starter's pistol.

Fire it whenever he hits 45s. That loud a bang will be impossible to ignore.

Get him honed into shape so that he can be concise, pithy even. There's no room for nuance.

Here's how I would like to see an election debate run:

Both candidates inside soundproof boxes. (With air holes. I'm not a sadist.)

Each gets 90s to respond, in turn.

After 90s the speaker's microphone is automatically muted, and the other person's goes live.

etc.

#itvdebate

I'm going to be live-tweeting the ITV debate, but not blow by blow.

Instead, I'll comment on stuff that catches my eye. Plenty of sarcasm opportunities, I'm sure.

Keep an eye on this thread, as I will keep adding to it as the verbal sparring match rages.

Here we go...